Unprecedented Strike

A nationwide strike called by trade unions including those affiliated with government has halted life in many parts of India. As many as 11 trade unions across party lines and 8 lakh public sector employees, barring Railways, have joined the stir. Banking, transport and government services have been hit across the country. The strike, largest in India since independence, as claimed by trade unions, is unprecedented and springs surprise that trade union wings of the BJP, the Left Front and the Congress have stood together to protest against anti-labour policies. The trade unions may have their own logic behind launching agitation against skyrocketing prices and anti-labour policies of the government, but nationwide stir was uncalled for as in no way a strike is a solution to any problem. There is no point that the trade unions have spared railways. Paralysing the services of banks, telephones, transportation and others has affected the common man’s life. By holding nationwide strike, trade unions merely showcased their power and created atmosphere against the Centre and received nothing in tangible.

Undoubtedly, the ruling dispensation at the Centre is weak and accountable for myriads of problems, but it does not mean that the government should be arm-twisted on every itsy-bitsy issues. The soaring prices of various commodities have robbed basic food items from the platters of aam adami and it is quite urgent that the Centre should swing into action to douse the fire of price hike. It would be premature to reach at conclusion that only the central government should be rapped on its knuckle for failing to control northward prices. Neither the Centre nor ruling establishments in states appear earnest in handling the issues affecting common person at large scale. It is irony that the trade unions of the opposition parties involved in strike seem to shrug off the fact that everything is not hunky dory in the states ruled by their political outfits. The Centre should not be given dressing down for inaction on those falling under concurrent list as there have been umpteenth evidences of slipshodness from the end of state governments to tackle the issues. It is palpable that the parochial political interests of state governments have proved a major stumbling block on the path reforms in many fields.